Holiness in Farm Life and between the Sexes. Hybrids are forbidden; a rule which, with its curious extensions, is found in Deuteronomy 22:9 f.; but contrast 2 Samuel 13:29; 1 Kings 10:25; Ezekiel 27:14; mules were highly valued in Palestine. Perhaps some magical heathen practice is the real object of the prohibition. [Mixtures of wool and cotton played a part in magic, and that probably accounts for the prohibition of two kinds of stuff, which is explained in Deuteronomy 22:11 as wool and linen together. In Deuteronomy 22:10 the prohibition of hybrids is absent, and in its place ploughing with ox and ass together is forbidden. A. S. P.] The punishment of the seduction of a betrothed slave (Leviticus 19:20-22) should follow Leviticus 20:12. In Leviticus 19, no penalties are stated. The woman is not to be put to death, as her master would lose her. With the necessary guilt offering (Leviticus 5:15), no extra fifth is here mentioned. Newly-planted trees are not to be plucked for three years, possibly because the first-fruits must in any case be given to Yahweh, and these are not good enough for such a gift. The circumcision of a tree is its ceremonial stripping. Not till the fifth year can it be safely used for food. [The point is perhaps that during the first three years it is taboo and must be left alone; it may originally have been left for the field-spirits. Notice that animal firstlings were also not used till they were three years old. The Arabs propitiate the jinn with blood when a piece of land is ploughed for the first time. A. S. P.]
Leviticus 19:19-25
19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrotheda to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
21 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.
22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.
23 And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.
24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holyb to praise the LORD withal.
25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.